Method and apparatus for verifying association of users with products and information

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for substantially automatically determining that a user is associated with at least one product. A processing platform determines one or more media files, one or more content files, or a combination thereof, which are associated with the at least one product. Further, the processing platform associates the one or media files, one or more content files, or a combination thereof with descriptive information associated with the at least one product.

BACKGROUND

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular,etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience toconsumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. Onearea of interest has been the development of internet services such asonline shopping and obtaining or providing information (e.g.,evaluations, testimonials, endorsements, comparisons, user experience,etc.) related to products or services of interest available via online(e.g., online merchants) or traditional marketplace. For example, a usermay seek information (e.g., provided by other users or serviceproviders) about a certain product (e.g., a camera) and/or the user maywish to provide information (e.g., to other users, service providers,etc.) about that certain product. Similarly, merchants and serviceproviders are interested in collecting the information about variousproducts from users who may own and/or have experience with thoseproducts. Generally, users may submit their information about certainproducts of interest to various web sites (e.g., personal blogs, publicblogs, social networking sites, online merchants, etc.); however, formany users, it is difficult to interact with various websites, locatethe products of interest, and submit their information. Further, themerchants and the service providers would like to receive theinformation with certain level of accuracy and verification that theusers providing the information about a certain product actually ownand/or have experience with the product. Accordingly, service providersand device manufacturers are challenged to develop accurate and easy touse mechanisms for users and merchants to submit and receive,respectively, product and user information.

SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Therefore, there is a need for an approach for verifying association ofusers with products and information.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises determining that a useris associated with at least one product. The method also comprisesdetermining one or more media files, one or more content files, or acombination thereof associated with the at least one product. The methodfurther comprises causing, at least in part, an association of the oneor media files, one or more content files, or a combination thereof withdescriptive information associated with the at least one product.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least oneprocessor and at least one memory including computer program code forone or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer programcode configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatusto determine that a user is associated with at least one product. Theapparatus is also caused to determine one or more media files, one ormore content files, or a combination thereof associated with the atleast one product. The apparatus is further caused to cause, at least inpart, an association of the one or media files, one or more contentfiles, or a combination thereof with descriptive information associatedwith the at least one product.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage mediumcarries one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, anapparatus to determine that a user is associated with at least oneproduct. The apparatus is also caused to determine one or more mediafiles, one or more content files, or a combination thereof associatedwith the at least one product. The apparatus is further caused to cause,at least in part, an association of the one or media files, one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof with descriptive informationassociated with the at least one product.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means fordetermining that a user is associated with at least one product. Theapparatus also comprises means for determining one or more media files,one or more content files, or a combination thereof associated with theat least one product. The apparatus further comprises means for causing,at least in part, an association of the one or media files, one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof with descriptive informationassociated with the at least one product.

In addition, for various example embodiments of the invention, thefollowing is applicable: a method comprising facilitating a processingof and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at leastone signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least onesignal based, at least in part, on (including derived at least in partfrom) any one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed inthis application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising facilitating access to at least oneinterface configured to allow access to at least one service, the atleast one service configured to perform any one or any combination ofnetwork or service provider methods (or processes) disclosed in thisapplication.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising facilitating creating and/orfacilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface elementand/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) atleast one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one deviceuser interface functionality based, at least in part, on data and/orinformation resulting from one or any combination of methods orprocesses disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment ofthe invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or anycombination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application asrelevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising creating and/or modifying (1) at leastone device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device userinterface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interfaceelement and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionalitybased at least in part on data and/or information resulting from one orany combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this applicationas relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least onesignal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes)disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of theinvention.

In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes) can beaccomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile device sideor in any shared way between service provider and mobile device withactions being performed on both sides.

For various example embodiments, the following is applicable: Anapparatus comprising means for performing the method of any oforiginally filed claims 1-10, 21-30, and 46-48.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention arereadily apparent from the following detailed description, simply byillustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations,including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Theinvention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and itsseveral details can be modified in various obvious respects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, andnot by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of verifying association ofusers with products and product information, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of a processing platform,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for verifying association of userswith products and product information, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for generating a request for apermission to access, process, and present content and informationrelated to a product, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for processing media, content, andmessages associated with a user, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams of a user interface utilized in the processesof FIGS. 3-5, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of hardware that can be used to implement anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to implement anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) that can beused to implement an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Examples of a method, apparatus, and computer program for verifyingassociation of users with products and product information. In thefollowing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments of the invention. It is apparent,however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the inventionmay be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalentarrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuringthe embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of verifying association ofusers with products and product information, according to oneembodiment. As mentioned, service providers (e.g., merchants) need anefficient method for collecting product information from usersassociated (e.g., owning, having experience) with various user productswhile the users need an easy and user friendly method forfinding/identifying products that they own and/or have experience with,and for providing various product information, wherein the productinformation may include media files, content files, user experience,testimonials, comments, comparisons, ratings, quality issues, and thelike. In general, the product information may be useful to users whenconsidering a certain product and/or service (e.g., online, at amerchant location, by a service provider, etc.), which they are notfamiliar with and would like to review related product information(e.g., offered by other users and/or service providers) in order to havea better understanding of the product. Further, the merchants and/or theservice providers would like to collect accurate and verified productand user information, which may be utilized for marketing, advertising,promotions, business decisions, and the like. However, users willing toprovide/share product and user information find it burdensome (e.g.,unfamiliar with various websites and online technologies) to search forand find the products they own and then submit relevant user and productinformation. As such, there is a need for an easy, user friendly andaccurate mechanism for the service providers to receive user and productinformation, which can be verified with a certain level of confidence.

To address these problems, a system 100 of FIG. 1 introduces thecapability for determining that a user is associated with at least oneproduct and obtaining one or more information items (e.g., media,content, etc.) for verifying the user to product association, whereinthe user may provide additional information associated with the at leastone product. By way of example, in the system 100 a user may view aproduct (e.g., a camera) at an online site (e.g., online merchant),which may be a same product as the user owns and/or has experience with.In one scenario, the user utilizes one or more features of a userinterface (UI) (e.g., click a button “I own this product”) to indicate(e.g., to the merchant, to a service provider, etc.) that he owns thesame product as currently being viewed. Further, a service provider mayrequest one or more information items (e.g., a media file, content file,etc.) associated with the product so that it can be verified that theuser does indeed own and/or has experience with the product. In oneexample, the user grants permission to the service provider foraccessing/retrieving the one or more information items, which may beavailable via a user device (e.g., a camera, a mobile phone, a PC,etc.), via a storage repository, via a content provider, and the like.Furthermore, once the service provider verifies that the product and theone or more information items are associated, the service provider mayrequest additional information from the user, for example, as to whichinformation items to utilize (e.g. best rated or most watched mediafiles). Additionally the service provider may present various prompts tothe user so the user may add additional descriptive information (e.g.,testimonials, comments, ratings, etc.), or the user may set privacyand/or security policies regarding the utilization of the informationitems (e.g., available to certain people or service providers), and thelike. Moreover, once the service provider completes the verificationprocess, the user information and/or the one or more product informationmay be made available to other users and/or service providers accordingto the set privacy and/or security policies (e.g., social proximity,social networking, service provider members, fee based, etc.). Inanother example, a user may provide a list and/or a media file (e.g.,photo, video, etc.) including information and/or images of one or moreproducts associated with the user (e.g., own, experience, etc.). Inanother example, a user providing user and/or product information mayreceive incentives (e.g., coupons, discounts, points, etc.) offered bythe merchant and/or the service provider.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines that a user is associatedwith at least one product. In one embodiment, a service provider (e.g.,an online merchant, a service provider) receives an indication (e.g., amessage via a web browser) from a user indicating that the user isassociated (e.g., owns, has experience) with at least one product. Inone embodiment, a service provider receives a message from the user,wherein the user finds a product of interest in an online catalog andutilizes a UI feature (e.g., a button) to indicate “I own this product”and in another example, the UI may have one or more features forindicating various possibilities such as “I have experience with thisproduct,” “I had this product,” and the like. In one embodiment, theservice provider may receive a listing of one or more products, a mediafile including one or more images of one or more products, and the like,which are associated with a user. In one embodiment, the serviceprovider may receive an indication/message from a user indicating one ormore combinations of one or more products (e.g. a camera plus a certaintype of lens). In one embodiment, the service provider has access to acompilation of different products a user owns or has experience with;for example, a camera 1 with a lens 1; and upon subsequentvisits/searches by the user for one or more compatible products (e.g.for other camera lenses), the service provider may present one or morecomparisons of one or more related products based on one or moreavailable product information (e.g., by other users, ratings,testimonial, etc.) to the user's current product such as the camera 1with a lens 2, the camera 1 with a lens 3, and the like. In oneembodiment, the service provider may compile and store one or moreinformation (e.g., a serial number) of each product, so when a productis sold/transferred to a new owner, the previous media, and/or contentfrom the product's original owner may still be accessible.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines one or more media files,one or more content files, or a combination thereof associated with theat least one product. In one embodiment, the service provider receivesone or more media files, which may include one or more images associatedwith the at least one product. For example, a media file including animage of a television set owned by the user. In another embodiment, theservice provider receives one or more content files associated with atleast one product, for example, a content file (e.g., a photo file) froma camera owned by the user. In another embodiment, a media file includesone or more product identification information items such as a barcode,a photo of packaging of the product, and the like. In one embodiment,the service provider utilizes context information associated with aproduct reference. For example, a user may be browsing a dog foodproduct page and may indicate “I use this product,” wherein the serviceprovider obtains information from the description of the product thatthis is a dog food product and the media/content/images to besearched/retrieved should contain an indicator/tag related to “dog.”Further, the service provider may retrieve all media (e.g., pictures)including a dog and/or the indicator/tag “dog,” and present the media toother users for promotional purposes such as “see how well your dog willlook like if it is fed with this food.” In another example, a user maybe viewing an electronic music keyboard, wherein the service providerpresents one or more media files (e.g., music recordings) for users tolisten to and see what kind of music have people created using thatelectronic music keyboard. In some instances, the electronic musickeyboard may be recognized from device information included with themedia files created using the electronic music keyboard. Alternatively,the keyboard may be recognized by comparing the sounds (e.g., musicalnotes) utilized to create the media file against sounds known to belongto sound banks of certain keyboards, wherein the comparison may beaccomplished by comparing the spectra of the sounds in the music fileand the samples in the sound bank and declaring a match if a certainrange (e.g., majority) of matching sound spectra are found.

In one embodiment, the system 100 causes, at least in part, anassociation of the one or media files, one or more content files, or acombination thereof, with descriptive information associated with the atleast one product. In one example, the service provider receives andassociates one or more comments, ratings, rankings, testimonials,quality information, user experience, and the like, from a user.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines at least one search termassociated with the at least one product. In one embodiment, the serviceprovider determines at least one search term (e.g., information item,tag, etc.) from a product listing, from a media file, from a metadata,and the like, associated with the at least one product; for example, aproduct name, a product model number, and the like, which may beutilized in conducting one or more searches for the at least oneproduct.

In one embodiment, the system 100 causes a querying of one or morestorage repositories, one or more devices associated with the user, or acombination thereof for the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on theat least one search term. In various embodiments, the service providerutilizes the at least one search term to conduct one or more searchesfor the one or more media files, the one or more content files, and thelike, for example, at one or more storage repositories (e.g., cloudstorage), one or more content providers, one or more other serviceproviders, and the like. In one embodiment, if there are severalcandidate media and/or content files, the service provider may apply oneor more algorithms to select the most suitable media and/or contentfiles. For example, if the at least one product is a camera, then theremay be one or more additional definitions/parameters set by the user, bythe content provider and/or by the service provider, which canrequest/suggest to select best possible quality images, wherein thequality may be defined in terms of sharpness and quality ofillumination, which may be determined from the media content utilizingknown methods of image content analysis. In one embodiment, theprocessing platform and/or the content provider may apply a facedetection technique to the media (e.g., images) so to exclude any mediathat may contain faces from being uploaded to the service provider,wherein this method can help to ensure privacy of persons in the media.In one embodiment, the service provider may prefer to receive raw imagefiles (e.g., without any compression) as they may be more useful forcomparison with other images. In one embodiment, the service providermay present to the user one or more available media files beforeretrieving them so the user may choose to accept/decline the one or moreavailable media items for retrieval by the service provider.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines one or more credentials foraccessing the one or more storage repositories, the one or more devices,or a combination thereof from the user. In one embodiment, a serviceprovider determines one or more credentials from a user accountinformation and/or user information provided by the user in order toaccess the one or more storage repositories (e.g., a media sharingsite), the one or more devices, and the like.

In one embodiment, the system 100 causes, at least in part, a generationof at least one request for permission to (a) access the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof;(b) cause the association of the one or more media files, the one ormore content files, or a combination thereof with the descriptiveinformation; or (c) a combination thereof, wherein the association ofthe one or more media files, the one or more content files, or acombination thereof with the descriptive information is based, at leastin part, on one or more responses from the user to the at least onerequest. In one embodiment, the service provider generates and submits arequest to the user for permission to access the one or more mediaand/or content files, which may be available via one or more userdevices, one or more storage repositories (e.g., at a service provider),and the like. In another embodiment, the request for permission is toassociate the descriptive information with the one or more media files,the one or more content files, or a combination thereof. For example,the service provider may retrieve one or more media files, one or morecontent files, and/or one or more descriptive information items, andwith user's permission, can associate them with the product and theuser. In one use case scenario, when the user clicks on a button toindicate that he owns a product, the service provider prompts/asks theuser for permission to search for media/content files created by theuser and/or via the product. Further, if the user grants permission, theservice provider may contact/utilize one or more media/content sharingservices (e.g., such as image sharing services) to search formedia/content related to the product. In another embodiment, one or moreapplications (e.g., widgets, client apps, etc.) on a user device (e.g.,computer, mobile phone, etc.) may be utilized to search for the one ormore media/content files on the user device.

In one embodiment, the system 100 causes a presentation of thedescriptive information, the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof to at least one other user. Inone example, one or more other users such as social networking contacts,friends, family members, and the like, may be presented with thedescriptive information, the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the one ormore other users may be determined by the user, by the service provider,and the like. For example, a user reviews a product at a serviceprovider's web site and based on one or more privacy/security parameters(e.g., user login), the user may be presented with product information(e.g., media, content, descriptive, etc.), and/or information associatedwith another user, wherein the presented information may be useful tothe user (e.g., may consider buying). In one embodiment, the serviceprovider may detect the type of device utilized by a user to access/viewcontent at the service provider's site (e.g., online merchant), whereinthe service provider can present the content according to the detecteddevice. For example, when presenting a user created image onto a smalldisplay on the user device, the service provider selects a part of theoriginal content (e.g. crops an image) to show, at a 1:1 size ratio onthe small display, a particular detail of the image which may beobtained by analyzing metadata of the image file (e.g. to identify aregion with a particularly sharp contrast in the visual details) and/orthe detail may be determined by the service provider to highlightpresence or absence of distortion (e.g., noise) in the image, quality ofartificial lightning, and the like. In one embodiment, one or moremedia/content files may be available from multiple users, which may beorganized based on location. For example, the service provider maypresent and showcase how different users have used a same camera modelto produce various images of an object at a same location, wherein thepresentation of the various images and locations may be prioritizedbased on determined relevance for a user viewing the camera at a serviceprovider's site. In various embodiments, the service provider may selectone or more combinations of media/content files (e.g., photos, video,audio, etc.) associated with a same target/object and differentproducts. For example, different pictures of a same statue at a samelocation, created via different and/or same cameras, with differentand/or same settings, by different and/or same users, and the like. Invarious embodiments, metadata associated with the media/content filesare utilized to determine various parameters associated with themedia/content; for example, user ID, location information, time of day,date, compass direction, and the like. In another example, a user may beviewing an electronic music keyboard, wherein the service providerpresents one or more musical audio recordings, which were created by oneor more other users using that electronic music keyboard (e.g., themusical audio selections include metadata indicating that particularelectronic music keyboard). In one embodiment, the system 100 determinesthe at least one other user based, at least in part, on social proximityinformation, privacy information, user preference information, or acombination thereof. In one example, the service provider may utilizeone or more information items (e.g., from user login and/or user profileinformation) such as social proximity, privacy, user preference, and thelike, for determining one or more other users associated (e.g., family,friend, colleague, classmate, etc.) with the user. In one embodiment,the service provider may present one or more diagrams showing one ormore users' social relationships.

In one embodiment, the system 100 processes and/or facilitates aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, related metadata, or a combination thereof to cause, at least inpart, a verification that the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof were created via the at leastone product. In one example, the system 100 processes a media file(e.g., a photo) and associated metadata (e.g., device ID, time, date,user info, etc.) to determine if the media file was created by a certainproduct (e.g., a particular camera model). In another example, adocument and associated metadata is processed to determine if thedocument was created via a certain software program and/or on a certainuser device (e.g., a certain personal computer). In one embodiment, theservice provider determines one or more settings associated with the atleast one product, which was utilized to create the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, and the like. For instance, itwould be beneficial to know settings of a camera when evaluating a mediacreated via the camera. In another example, settings of an air-mattress(e.g., pressure) and user information (e.g., weight, height, etc.) canbe useful when another user is reviewing the product and the associatedinformation. In another example, an exercise equipment set (e.g., a homegym) is associated with a photo of the exercise equipment setup/settingsand pictures of the user before and after using the exercise equipmentalong with user example test measurements (e.g., body fat) measured byvarious sensors (e.g., on a user device), thus providing media, contentand information via one or more devices. In one embodiment, productsetting information may be determined from retrieved metadata anddisplayed with a media/content associated with the product. In oneembodiment, the service provider may retrieve one or more media and/orcontent files created by one or more combinations of one or moreproducts (e.g. a camera plus a certain type of lens).

In one embodiment, the system 100 processes and/or facilitates aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, one or more messages associated with the user, or a combinationthereof to determine that the user is associated with the at least oneproduct, wherein the association of the one or more media files, the oneor more content files, or a combination thereof is based, at least inpart, on the verification. For example, once the verification iscompleted, a media file (e.g., a photo) of a product, a contentassociated with the product (e.g., a video captured via the product),and any other information (e.g., a user testimonial), and the like, areassociated with the user. In one example, a user is associated with acamera, a photo of the camera and the user, a photo created via thecamera, and user experience comments by the user are associated with theuser and/or with a user account at a service provider.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines ranking information for theuser based, at least in part, on the verification. In one embodiment, auser is ranked based on number of products, media, content, information,and the like are verified and associated with the user. In oneembodiment, a user may have a high ranking for having multiple verifiedand associated products, media, content, and information. In anotherembodiment, a user may have a high ranking for having multiple otherusers access, view, comment on, etc., the products and the productinformation associated with the user. In another embodiment, a user whohas obtained high rankings (e.g., by providing a number of producttestimonials) may be given an honorary title such as “Gadget King” bythe system 100 and/or by other users, wherein these titles may beassociated with and/or displayed in the user's profile.

In one embodiment, the system 100 determines that the at least oneproduct has connectivity to a device associated with the user, whereinthe one or more media files, the one or more content files, one or morecharacteristics of the at least one product, or a combination thereof isobtained over the connectivity. In one example, various products (e.g.,a camera, a mobile phone, a television set, a refrigerator, a mattress,a couch, etc.) may share/provide one or more characteristics of thevarious products via one or more connections (e.g., wireless, wired,Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Near Field Communication (NFC),etc.) with one or more devices (e.g., a personal computer, a mobilephone, etc.) associated with the user. For example, an RFID tag attachedto a mattress may provide one or more information items (e.g., make,model, comfort level, cushion, construction, etc.) associated with themattress to a mobile phone of the user of the mattress.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the system 100 includes userequipment (UE) 101 a-101 n (also collectively referred to as UE 101),which may be utilized to execute one or more applications 103 a-103 n(also collectively referred to as applications 103) (e.g., a socialnetworking application, a web browser, a media application, userinterface, GPS, a mapping application, a web client, etc.) tocommunicate with other UEs 101, a processing platform 105, a servicesplatform 107, a content provider 109, and/or with other components(e.g., a GPS satellite) of a communication network directly and/or overa communication network 111. In one embodiment, the services platform107 may include one or more services 113 a-113 k (also collectivelyreferred to as services 113), which may provide one or more services(e.g., online shopping, online product evaluations, social networking,etc.). In one embodiment, the processing platform 105 may include and/orhave access to a user/product database 115 to access and/or storeinformation associated with the users and/or the products, media, mediarecognition models, and the like. In one embodiment, the services 113may obtain content (e.g., media content, product information, etc.) fromthe content provider 109 and then offer the content to the UE 101, tothe processing platform 105, and/or to one or more other services orentities of the system 100. It is noted that the processing platform 105may be a separate entity in the system 100, a part of the services 113,a part of the services platform 107, a part of the content provider 109,included within the UE 101 (e.g., as part of the applications 103), or acombination thereof. Further, one or more components of the system 100may directly or indirectly communicate with one or more other componentsof the system 100 via the communication network 111 and/or via othercommunication channels.

In one embodiment, the UE 101 includes a location module/sensor that candetermine the UE 101 location (e.g., a user's location). The UE 101location can be determined by a triangulation system such as a globalpositioning system (GPS), assisted GPS (A-GPS), Cell of Origin, wirelesslocal area network triangulation, or other location extrapolationtechnologies. Standard GPS and A-GPS systems can use satellites 117 topinpoint the location (e.g., longitude, latitude, and altitude) of theUE 101. A Cell of Origin system can be used to determine the cellulartower that a cellular UE 101 is synchronized with. This informationprovides a coarse location of the UE 101 because the cellular tower canhave a unique cellular identifier (cell-ID) that can be geographicallymapped. The location module/sensor may also utilize multipletechnologies to detect the location of the UE 101. GPS coordinates canprovide finer detail as to the location of the UE 101. In anotherembodiment, the UE 101 may utilize a local area network (e.g., WLAN)connection to determine the UE 101 location information, for example,from an Internet source (e.g., a service provider).

In one embodiment, the services platform 107 may include one or moreservice providers offering one or more services, for example, onlineshopping, social networking services (e.g., blogging), media upload,media download, media streaming, account management services, or acombination thereof. Further, the services platform 107 may conduct asearch for content, media, information, and the like associated with oneor more users and/or one or more products. In certain embodiments, theprocessing platform 105 is implemented as a collection of one or morehardware, software, algorithms, firmware, or combinations thereof thatcan be integrated for use with the services platform 107 and/or with thecontent provider 109. In various embodiments, the processing platform105 can be maintained on a network server, while operating in connectionwith the services platform 107 and/or with the content provider 109 asan extensible feature, a web-service, an applet, a script, anobject-oriented application, or the like to enable searching for and/orprocessing of the social networking information. Further, the processingplatform 105, the services platform 107, and/or the content provider 109may utilize one or more service application programming interfaces(APIs)/integrated interface, through which communication, media,content, and information (e.g., associated with users and products) maybe shared, accessed and/or processed.

In one embodiment, the processing platform 105, the services platform107, and/or the content provider 109 may interact according to aclient-server model. It is noted that the client-server model ofcomputer process interaction is widely known and used. According to theclient-server model, a client process sends a message including arequest to a server process, and the server process responds byproviding a service. The server process may also return a message with aresponse to the client process. Often the client process and serverprocess execute on different computer devices, called hosts, andcommunicate via a network using one or more protocols for networkcommunications. The term “server” is conventionally used to refer to theprocess that provides the service, or the host computer on which theprocess operates. Similarly, the term “client” is conventionally used torefer to the process that makes the request, or the host computer onwhich the process operates. As used herein, the terms “client” and“server” refer to the processes, rather than the host computers, unlessotherwise clear from the context. In addition, the process performed bya server can be broken up to run as multiple processes on multiple hosts(sometimes called tiers) for reasons that include reliability,scalability, and redundancy, among others.

By way of example, the communication network 111 of system 100 includesone or more networks such as a data network, a wireless network, atelephony network, or any combination thereof. It is contemplated thatthe data network may be any local area network (LAN), metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public data network (e.g., theInternet), short range wireless network, or any other suitablepacket-switched network, such as a commercially owned, proprietarypacket-switched network, e.g., a proprietary cable or fiber-opticnetwork, and the like, or any combination thereof. In addition, thewireless network may be, for example, a cellular network and may employvarious technologies including enhanced data rates for global evolution(EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS),universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as anyother suitable wireless medium, e.g., worldwide interoperability formicrowave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, codedivision multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access(WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth®,Internet Protocol (IP) data casting, satellite, mobile ad-hoc network(MANET), and the like, or any combination thereof.

The UE 101 is any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portableterminal including a mobile handset, station, unit, device, multimediacomputer, multimedia tablet, Internet node, communicator, desktopcomputer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, personalcommunication system (PCS) device, personal navigation device, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), audio/video player, digital camera/camcorder,positioning device, television receiver, radio broadcast receiver,electronic book device, game device, or any combination thereof,including the accessories and peripherals of these devices, or anycombination thereof. It is also contemplated that the UE 101 can supportany type of interface to the user (such as “wearable” circuitry, etc.).

By way of example, the UEs 101, the processing platform 105, theservices platform 107, and the content provider 109 communicate witheach other and other components of the communication network 111 usingwell known, new or still developing protocols. In this context, aprotocol includes a set of rules defining how the network nodes withinthe communication network 111 interact with each other based oninformation sent over the communication links. The protocols areeffective at different layers of operation within each node, fromgenerating and receiving physical signals of various types, to selectinga link for transferring those signals, to the format of informationindicated by those signals, to identifying which software applicationexecuting on a computer system sends or receives the information. Theconceptually different layers of protocols for exchanging informationover a network are described in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)Reference Model.

Communications between the network nodes are typically effected byexchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet typically comprises (1)header information associated with a particular protocol, and (2)payload information that follows the header information and containsinformation that may be processed independently of that particularprotocol. In some protocols, the packet includes (3) trailer informationfollowing the payload and indicating the end of the payload information.The header includes information such as the source of the packet, itsdestination, the length of the payload, and other properties used by theprotocol. Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocolincludes a header and payload for a different protocol associated with adifferent, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for aparticular protocol typically indicates a type for the next protocolcontained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is said to beencapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers included in apacket traversing multiple heterogeneous networks, such as the Internet,typically include a physical (layer 1) header, a data-link (layer 2)header, an internetwork (layer 3) header and a transport (layer 4)header, and various application (layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) headersas defined by the OSI Reference Model.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of a processing platform,according to one embodiment. By way of example, the processing platform105 includes one or more components for analyzing and processing userand/or product information. It is contemplated that the functions ofthese components may be combined in one or more components or performedby other components of equivalent functionality. In this embodiment, theprocessing platform 105 includes control logic (or processor) 201,memory 203, an account manager 205, an analysis module 207, anassociation module 209, a presentation module 211, and a communicationinterface 213.

The control logic 201 executes at least one algorithm, software,application, and the like for executing functions of the processingplatform 105. For example, the control logic 201 may interact with theaccount manager 205 to receive a request to register a user, one or moremedia, and/or content files, and/or descriptive information associatedwith at least one product associated with the user. The descriptiveinformation may include user testimonial, comment, experience, rating,and the like. In determining whether to complete the registrationrequest, the account manager 205 may process information associated withthe user, such as the user's account information, user status, userranking, privacy policy, security policy, etc. If, for instance, it isdetermined that the user satisfies the requirements of the serviceprovider, the account manager 205 may then register and associate theuser with the at least one product and other related information.

As such, the account manager 205 may work with the analysis module 207,via the control logic 201, to process the user and product informationto generate a user profile and/or add new product information to anaccount already associated with the user. As discussed, the media,content and information associated with the product and/or the user maybe captured (e.g., via a sound recorder, a camera, a camcorder, etc.) orretrieved from a local or remote database (e.g., a search database, asocial networking database, etc.), a content provider, a user device,another service provider, and the like.

Next, the control logic 201 may then direct the association module 209to associate together the user, the one or more media and/or contentfiles, the descriptive information, and the at least one product.Consequently, the presentation module 211 may present all or a portionof the one or more media/content and/or descriptive information to otherusers based, at least in part, on the privacy and/or security policiesassociated with the user and/or the other users. Further, the processingplatform 105 may share all or a portion of the one or more productcontent and/or descriptive information with one or more serviceproviders (e.g., merchants), content providers, and the like based, atleast in part, on the privacy and/or security policies.

The control logic 201 may also utilize the communication interface 213to communicate with other components of the processing platform 105, theUEs 101, the services platform 107, the content provider 109, and othercomponents of the system 100. For example, the communication interface213 may transmit a notification to a user's device to indicate whetherthe user request has been registered with one or more service providers(e.g., merchants). The communication interface 213 may further includemultiple means of communication. In one use case, the communicationinterface 213 may be able to communicate over SMS, internet protocol,instant messaging, voice sessions (e.g., via a phone network), or othertypes of communication.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for verifying association of userswith products and product information, according to one embodiment. Inone embodiment, the processing platform 105 performs the process 300 andis implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and amemory as shown in FIG. 8. As such, the control logic 201 can providemeans for accomplishing various parts of the process 300 as well asmeans for accomplishing other processes in conjunction with othercomponents of the processing platform 105.

In step 301, the processing platform 105 determines that a user isassociated with at least one product. In one embodiment, the processingplatform 105 (e.g., an online merchant, a service provider) receives anindication (e.g., a message via a web browser) from a user indicatingthat the user is associated (e.g., owns, has experience) with at leastone product. In one embodiment, the processing platform 105 receives amessage from the user, wherein the user finds a product of interest inan online catalog and utilizes a UI feature (e.g., a button) to indicate“I own this product” and in another example, the UI may have one or morefeatures for indicating various possibilities such as “I have experiencewith this product,” “I had this product,” and the like. In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 may receive a listing of one ormore products, a media file including one or more images of one or moreproducts, and the like, which are associated with a user. In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 may receive anindication/message from a user indicating one or more combinations ofone or more products (e.g. a camera plus a certain type of lens). In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 has access to a compilation ofdifferent products a user owns or has experience with; for example, acamera 1 with a lens 1; and upon subsequent visits/searches by the userfor one or more compatible products (e.g. for other camera lenses), theprocessing platform 105 may present one or more comparisons of one ormore related products based on one or more available product information(e.g., by other users, ratings, testimonial, etc.) to the user's currentproduct such as the camera 1 with a lens 2, the camera 1 with a lens 3,and the like. In one embodiment, the processing platform 105 may compileand store one or more information (e.g., a serial number) of eachproduct, so when a product is sold/transferred to a new owner, theprevious media, and/or content from the product's original owner maystill be accessible.

In step 303, the processing platform 105 determines one or more mediafiles, one or more content files, or a combination thereof associatedwith the at least one product. In one embodiment, the processingplatform 105 one or more media files, which may include one or moreimages associated with the at least one product. For example, a mediafile including an image of a television set owned by the user. Inanother embodiment, the processing platform 105 receives one or morecontent files associated with at least one product, for example, acontent file (e.g., a photo file) from a camera owned by the user. Inanother embodiment, a media file includes one or more productidentification information items such as a barcode, a photo of packagingof the product, and the like. In one embodiment, the processing platform105 utilizes context information associated with a product reference.For example, a user may be browsing a dog food product page and mayindicate “I use this product,” wherein the processing platform 105obtains information from the description of the product that this is adog food product and the media/content/images to be searched/retrievedshould contain an indicator/tag related to “dog.” Further, theprocessing platform 105 may retrieve all media (e.g., pictures)including a dog and/or the indicator/tag “dog,” and present the media toother users for promotional purposes such as “see how well your dog willlook like if it is fed with this food.” In another example, a user maybe viewing an electronic music keyboard, wherein the processing platform105 presents one or more media files (e.g., music recordings) for usersto listen to and see what kind of music have people created using thatelectronic music keyboard. In some instances, the electronic musickeyboard may be recognized from device information included with themedia files created using the electronic music keyboard. Alternatively,the keyboard may be recognized by comparing the sounds (e.g., musicalnotes) utilized to create the media file against sounds known to belongto sound banks of certain keyboards, wherein the comparison may beaccomplished by comparing the spectra of the sounds in the music fileand the samples in the sound bank and declaring a match if a certainrange (e.g., majority) of matching sound spectra are found.

In step 305, the processing platform 105 causes, at least in part, anassociation of the one or media files, one or more content files, or acombination thereof with descriptive information associated with the atleast one product. In one example, the processing platform 105 receivesand associates one or more comments, ratings, rankings, testimonials,quality information, user experience, and the like, from a user.

In step 307, the processing platform 105 determines at least one searchterm associated with the at least one product. In one embodiment, theprocessing platform 105 determines at least one search term (e.g.,information item, tag, etc.) from a product listing, from a media file,from a metadata, and the like, associated with the at least one product;for example, a product name, a product model number, and the like, whichmay be utilized in conducting one or more searches for the at least oneproduct.

In step 309, the processing platform 105 causes, at least in part, aquerying of one or more storage repositories, one or more devicesassociated with the user, or a combination thereof for the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereofbased, at least in part, on the at least one search term. In variousembodiments, the processing platform 105 utilizes the at least onesearch term to conduct one or more searches for the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, and the like, for example, at oneor more storage repositories (e.g., cloud storage), one or more contentproviders, one or more other service providers, and the like. In oneembodiment, if there are several candidate media and/or content files,the processing platform 105 may apply one or more algorithms to selectthe most suitable media and/or content files. For example, if the atleast one product is a camera, then there may be one or more additionaldefinitions/parameters set by the user, by the content provider and/orby the processing platform 105, which can request/suggest to select bestpossible quality images, wherein the quality may be defined in terms ofsharpness and quality of illumination, which may be determined from themedia content utilizing known methods of image content analysis. In oneembodiment, the processing platform and/or the content provider mayapply a face detection technique to the media (e.g., images) so toexclude any media that may contain faces from being uploaded to theprocessing platform 105, wherein this method can help to ensure privacyof persons in the media. In one embodiment, the processing platform 105may prefer to receive raw image files (e.g., without any compression) asthey may be more useful for comparison with other images. In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 may present to the user one ormore available media files before retrieving them so the user may chooseto accept/decline the one or more available media items for retrieval bythe processing platform 105.

In step 311, the processing platform 105 determines one or morecredentials for accessing the one or more storage repositories, the oneor more devices, or a combination thereof from the user. In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 determines one or morecredentials from a user account information and/or user informationprovided by the user in order to access the one or more storagerepositories (e.g., a media sharing site), the one or more devices, andthe like.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for generating a request forpermission to access, process, and present content and informationrelated to a product, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment,the processing platform 105 performs the process 400 and is implementedin, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shownin FIG. 8. As such, the control logic 201 can provide means foraccomplishing various parts of the process 400 as well as means foraccomplishing other processes in conjunction with other components ofthe processing platform 105.

In step 401, the processing platform 105 causes, at least in part, ageneration of at least one request for permission to (a) access the oneor more media files, the one or more content files, or a combinationthereof; (b) cause the association of the one or more media files, theone or more content files, or a combination thereof with the descriptiveinformation; or (c) a combination thereof, wherein the association ofthe one or more media files, the one or more content files, or acombination thereof with the descriptive information is based, at leastin part, on one or more responses from the user to the at least onerequest. In one embodiment, the processing platform 105 generates andsubmits a request to the user for permission to access the one or moremedia and/or content files, which may be available via one or more userdevices, one or more storage repositories (e.g., at a service provider),and the like. In another embodiment, the request for permission is toassociate the descriptive information with the one or more media files,the one or more content files, or a combination thereof. For example,the processing platform 105 may retrieve one or more media files, one ormore content files, and/or one or more descriptive information items,and with user's permission, can associate them with the product and theuser. In one use case scenario, when the user clicks on a button toindicate that he owns a product, the processing platform 105prompts/asks the user for permission to search for media/content filescreated by the user and/or via the product. Further, if the user grantspermission, the processing platform 105 may contact/utilize one or moremedia/content sharing services (e.g., such as image sharing services) tosearch for media/content related to the product. In another embodiment,one or more applications (e.g., widgets, client apps, etc.) on a userdevice (e.g., computer, mobile phone, etc.) may be utilized to searchfor the one or more media/content files on the user device.

In step 403, the processing platform 105 causes, at least in part, apresentation of the descriptive information, the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof to atleast one other user. In one example, one or more other users such associal networking contacts, friends, family members, and the like, maybe presented with the descriptive information, the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof. In oneembodiment, the one or more other users may be determined by the user,by the processing platform 105, and the like. For example, a userreviews a product at a service provider's web site and based on one ormore privacy/security parameters (e.g., user login), the user may bepresented with product information (e.g., media, content, descriptive,etc.), and/or information associated with another user, wherein thepresented information may be useful to the user (e.g., may considerbuying). In one embodiment, the processing platform 105 may detect thetype of device utilized by a user to access/view content at a serviceprovider's site (e.g., online merchant), wherein the processing platform105 can present the content according to the detected device. Forexample, when presenting a user created image onto a small display onthe user device, the processing platform 105 selects a part of theoriginal content (e.g. crops an image) to show, at a 1:1 size ratio onthe small display, a particular detail of the image which may beobtained by analyzing metadata of the image file (e.g. to identify aregion with a particularly sharp contrast in the visual details) and/orthe detail may be determined by the processing platform 105 to highlightpresence or absence of distortion (e.g., noise) in the image, quality ofartificial lightning, and the like. In one embodiment, one or moremedia/content files may be available from multiple users, which may beorganized based on location. For example, the processing platform 105may present and showcase how different users have used a same cameramodel to produce various images of an object at a same location, whereinthe presentation of the various images and locations may be prioritizedbased on determined relevance for a user viewing the camera at a serviceprovider's site. In various embodiments, the processing platform 105 mayselect one or more combinations of media/content files (e.g., photos,video, audio, etc.) associated with a same target/object and differentproducts. For example, different pictures of a same statue at a samelocation, created via different and/or same cameras, with differentand/or same settings, by different and/or same users, and the like. Invarious embodiments, metadata associated with the media/content filesare utilized to determine various parameters associated with themedia/content; for example, user ID, location information, time of day,date, compass direction, and the like. In another example, a user may beviewing an electronic music keyboard, wherein the processing platform105 presents one or more musical audio recordings, which were created byone or more other users using that electronic music keyboard (e.g., themusical audio selections include metadata indicating that particularelectronic music keyboard).

In step 405, the processing platform 105 determines the at least oneother user based, at least in part, on social proximity information,privacy information, user preference information, or a combinationthereof. In one example, the processing platform 105 may utilize one ormore information items (e.g., from user login and/or user profileinformation) such as social proximity, privacy, user preference, and thelike, for determining one or more other users associated (e.g., family,friend, colleague, classmate, etc.) with the user. In one embodiment,the service provider may present one or more diagrams showing one ormore users' social relationships.

In step 407, the processing platform 105 processes and/or facilitates aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, related metadata, or a combination thereof to cause, at least inpart, a verification that the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof were created via the at leastone product. In one example, the processing platform 105 processes amedia file (e.g., a photo) and associated metadata (e.g., device ID,time, date, user info, etc.) to determine if the media file was createdby a certain product (e.g., a particular camera model). In anotherexample, a document and associated metadata is processed to determine ifthe document was created via a certain software program and/or on acertain user device (e.g., a certain personal computer). In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 determines one or more settingsassociated with the at least one product, which was utilized to createthe one or more media files, the one or more content files, and thelike. For instance, it would be beneficial to know settings of a camerawhen evaluating a media created via the camera. In another example,settings of an air-mattress (e.g., pressure) and user information (e.g.,weight, height, etc.) can be useful when another user is reviewing theproduct and the associated information. In another example, an exerciseequipment set (e.g., a home gym) is associated with a photo of theexercise equipment setup/settings and pictures of the user before andafter using the exercise equipment along with user example testmeasurements (e.g., body fat) measured by various sensors (e.g., on auser device), thus providing media, content and information via one ormore devices. In one embodiment, product setting information may bedetermined from retrieved metadata and displayed with a media/contentassociated with the product. In one embodiment, the processing platform105 may retrieve one or more media and/or content files created by oneor more combinations of one or more products (e.g. a camera plus acertain type of lens).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for processing media, content, andmessages associated with a user, according to one embodiment. In oneembodiment, the processing platform 105 performs the process 500 and isimplemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and amemory as shown in FIG. 8. As such, the control logic 201 can providemeans for accomplishing various parts of the process 500 as well asmeans for accomplishing other processes in conjunction with othercomponents of the processing platform 105.

In step 501, the processing platform 105 processes and/or facilitates aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, one or more messages associated with the user, or a combinationthereof to determine that the user is associated with the at least oneproduct, wherein the association of the one or more media files, the oneor more content files, or a combination thereof is based, at least inpart, on the verification. For example, once the verification iscompleted, a media file (e.g., a photo) of a product, a contentassociated with the product (e.g., a video captured via the product),and any other information (e.g., a user testimonial), and the like, areassociated with the user. In one example, a user is associated with acamera, a photo of the camera and the user, a photo created via thecamera, and user experience comments by the user are associated with theuser and/or with a user account at a service provider.

In step 503, the processing platform 105 determines ranking informationfor the user based, at least in part, on the verification. In oneembodiment, a user is ranked based on number of products, media,content, information, and the like are verified and associated with theuser. In one embodiment, a user may have a high ranking for havingmultiple verified and associated products, media, content, andinformation. In another embodiment, a user may have a high ranking forhaving multiple other users access, view, comment on, etc., the productsand the product information associated with the user. In anotherembodiment, a user who has obtained high rankings (e.g., by providing anumber of product testimonials) may be given an honorary title such as“Gadget King” by the system 100 and/or by other users, wherein thesetitles may be associated with and/or displayed in the user's profile.

In step 505, the processing platform 105 determines that the at leastone product has connectivity to a device associated with the user,wherein the one or more media files, the one or more content files, oneor more characteristics of the at least one product, or a combinationthereof is obtained over the connectivity. In one example, variousproducts (e.g., a camera, a mobile phone, a television set, arefrigerator, a mattress, a couch, etc.) may share/provide one or morecharacteristics of the various products via one or more connections(e.g., wireless, wired, RFID, NFC, etc.) with one or more devices (e.g.,a personal computer, a mobile phone, etc.) associated with the user. Forexample, an RFID tag attached to a mattress may provide one or moreinformation items (e.g., make, model, comfort level, cushion,construction, etc.) associated with the mattress to a mobile phone ofthe user of the mattress.

FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams of user interfaces utilized in the processes ofFIGS. 3-5, according to various embodiments. FIG. 6A features UI 600showing an online merchant/service provider website 601 for an exampleservice provider/merchant 603 “The Online Store That Has Everything.” Inone embodiment, user 605 is viewing a product 607 (e.g., a camera) withadditional product information 609 such as model number, pricing,discounts, customer reviews, and the like. Further, the user 605 maymake a selection 611 “Buy Now” to submit a request to purchase theproduct 607. Furthermore, the user 605 may select 613 “I Own this” tocause a message to the service provider 603 and indicate that the user605 owns a same or a substantially same product (e.g., similar modelnumber). Additionally, the service provider 603 may display one or moremedia/content items 615 associated with the product and may request fromthe user 605 one or more media/content items associated with the productowned by the user 605. In one embodiment, in addition to indicator 613,the user 605 may indicate that the user 605 has experience with theproduct 607 (e.g., has used it before, owned it before, etc.) In oneembodiment, the service provider 603 may indicate one or more users 617who are also associated with the product 607 (e.g., own it) and/or whoare associated with the user 605 (e.g., friends, social networkingcontacts, colleagues, etc.), wherein the association between the user605 and the one or more users 617 may be presented based, at least inpart, on one or more settings such as privacy, security, user profile,user preference, and the like, defined by the user 605, the one or moreusers 617, the service provider 603, and/or one or more other services.In one embodiment, the one or more media/contents 615 may include one ormore media/contents requested and retrieved from the user 605.

FIG. 6B illustrates various UIs 630 utilized in providing various userand product information to one or more service providers. Indicator 631shows a user device which may be utilized to provide information (e.g.,an image) associated with the user 605 to a service provider. Further,indicator 633 shows a barcode associated with a product, which may beprovided by the user 605 and/or retrieved by the service provider 603and may be utilized to determine one or more information, media,content, and the like, associated with a product. Similarly, memory tag635 (e.g., RFID) may be associated with (e.g., included, attached to,etc.) a product and may be utilized to determine one or moreinformation, media, content, and the like, associated with a product.Furthermore, the user 605 may provide a list similar to user inventorylist 637 including information on one or more products (e.g., products-1through products-n) associated with (e.g., owned by) the user 605. Suchinventory list may be created when the user registers for the first timewith the online store and/or with similar services. For example, theuser 605 may provide the list 637 to track products owned and obtainedby the user 605, wherein the list may be maintained and/or updated bythe user and/or one or more service providers.

FIG. 6C illustrates media 650 including one or more items associatedwith one or more products. As shown, example media 651 (e.g., a photo)various images including an image of a television set 653, a computer655, a book 657, a mobile phone 659, a refrigerator 661, and a pair ofbinoculars 663. In one embodiment, the one or more service and/orcontent providers may utilize one or more image detection techniques onthe example media 651 to determine the one or more images and identifyone or more products associated with the one or more images using, forexample, image object segmentation, image analysis, and/or image objectrecognition methods. For example, the images may be first processed withan image object segmentation method which may segment possible objectsfrom the image; then a set of visual features may be extracted from thesegmented objects; and the extracted features may be then comparedagainst features extracted from images of various products (such as TVsets) to find possible matches. For example, the user 605 may captureone or more photos of his office, his living room, his studio, hisbedroom, and the like, in order to capture one or more products in eachroom, wherein the products may be detected and determined by one or moreservice providers for creating one or more lists of products associatedwith (e.g., owned by) the user 605.

The processes described herein for verifying association of users withproducts and product information may be advantageously implemented viasoftware, hardware, firmware, or a combination of software and/orfirmware and/or hardware. For example, the processes described herein,may be advantageously implemented via processor(s), Digital SignalProcessing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc. Such exemplaryhardware for performing the described functions is detailed below.

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system 700 upon which an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented. Although computer system 700 is depictedwith respect to a particular device or equipment, it is contemplatedthat other devices or equipment (e.g., network elements, servers, etc.)within FIG. 7 can deploy the illustrated hardware and components ofsystem 700. Computer system 700 is programmed (e.g., via computerprogram code or instructions) to verify association of users withproducts and product information as described herein and includes acommunication mechanism such as a bus 710 for passing informationbetween other internal and external components of the computer system700. Information (also called data) is represented as a physicalexpression of a measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, butincluding, in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic,electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, biological, molecular, atomic,sub-atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north and southmagnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent twostates (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena can representdigits of a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneousquantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). Asequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is used torepresent a number or code for a character. In some embodiments,information called analog data is represented by a near continuum ofmeasurable values within a particular range. Computer system 700, or aportion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps ofverifying association of users with products and product information.

A bus 710 includes one or more parallel conductors of information sothat information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus710. One or more processors 702 for processing information are coupledwith the bus 710.

A processor (or multiple processors) 702 performs a set of operations oninformation as specified by computer program code related to verifyingassociation of users with products and product information. The computerprogram code is a set of instructions or statements providinginstructions for the operation of the processor and/or the computersystem to perform specified functions. The code, for example, may bewritten in a computer programming language that is compiled into anative instruction set of the processor. The code may also be writtendirectly using the native instruction set (e.g., machine language). Theset of operations include bringing information in from the bus 710 andplacing information on the bus 710. The set of operations also typicallyinclude comparing two or more units of information, shifting positionsof units of information, and combining two or more units of information,such as by addition or multiplication or logical operations like OR,exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Each operation of the set of operationsthat can be performed by the processor is represented to the processorby information called instructions, such as an operation code of one ormore digits. A sequence of operations to be executed by the processor702, such as a sequence of operation codes, constitute processorinstructions, also called computer system instructions or, simply,computer instructions. Processors may be implemented as mechanical,electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical or quantum components, amongothers, alone or in combination.

Computer system 700 also includes a memory 704 coupled to bus 710. Thememory 704, such as a random access memory (RAM) or any other dynamicstorage device, stores information including processor instructions forverifying association of users with products and product information.Dynamic memory allows information stored therein to be changed by thecomputer system 700. RAM allows a unit of information stored at alocation called a memory address to be stored and retrievedindependently of information at neighboring addresses. The memory 704 isalso used by the processor 702 to store temporary values duringexecution of processor instructions. The computer system 700 alsoincludes a read only memory (ROM) 706 or any other static storage devicecoupled to the bus 710 for storing static information, includinginstructions, that is not changed by the computer system 700. Somememory is composed of volatile storage that loses the information storedthereon when power is lost. Also coupled to bus 710 is a non-volatile(persistent) storage device 708, such as a magnetic disk, optical diskor flash card, for storing information, including instructions, thatpersists even when the computer system 700 is turned off or otherwiseloses power.

Information, including instructions for verifying association of userswith products and product information, is provided to the bus 710 foruse by the processor from an external input device 712, such as akeyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, amicrophone, an Infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, astylus pen, a touch screen, or a sensor. A sensor detects conditions inits vicinity and transforms those detections into physical expressioncompatible with the measurable phenomenon used to represent informationin computer system 700. Other external devices coupled to bus 710, usedprimarily for interacting with humans, include a display device 714,such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), alight emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, aplasma screen, or a printer for presenting text or images, and apointing device 716, such as a mouse, a trackball, cursor directionkeys, or a motion sensor, for controlling a position of a small cursorimage presented on the display 714 and issuing commands associated withgraphical elements presented on the display 714. In some embodiments,for example, in embodiments in which the computer system 700 performsall functions automatically without human input, one or more of externalinput device 712, display device 714 and pointing device 716 is omitted.

In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 720, is coupled to bus710. The special purpose hardware is configured to perform operationsnot performed by processor 702 quickly enough for special purposes.Examples of ASICs include graphics accelerator cards for generatingimages for display 714, cryptographic boards for encrypting anddecrypting messages sent over a network, speech recognition, andinterfaces to special external devices, such as robotic arms and medicalscanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence ofoperations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware.

Computer system 700 also includes one or more instances of acommunications interface 770 coupled to bus 710. Communication interface770 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling to a variety ofexternal devices that operate with their own processors, such asprinters, scanners and external disks. In general the coupling is with anetwork link 778 that is connected to a local network 780 to which avariety of external devices with their own processors are connected. Forexample, communication interface 770 may be a parallel port or a serialport or a universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. Insome embodiments, communications interface 770 is an integrated servicesdigital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or atelephone modem that provides an information communication connection toa corresponding type of telephone line. In some embodiments, acommunication interface 770 is a cable modem that converts signals onbus 710 into signals for a communication connection over a coaxial cableor into optical signals for a communication connection over a fiberoptic cable. As another example, communications interface 770 may be alocal area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connectionto a compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also beimplemented. For wireless links, the communications interface 770 sendsor receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic orelectromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals, thatcarry information streams, such as digital data. For example, inwireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell phones,the communications interface 770 includes a radio band electromagnetictransmitter and receiver called a radio transceiver. In certainembodiments, the communications interface 770 enables connection to thecommunication network 111 for verifying association of users withproducts and product information.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing information to processor 702, includinginstructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms,including, but not limited to computer-readable storage medium (e.g.,non-volatile media, volatile media), and transmission media.Non-transitory media, such as non-volatile media, include, for example,optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 708. Volatile mediainclude, for example, dynamic memory 704. Transmission media include,for example, twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiberoptic cables, and carrier waves that travel through space without wiresor cables, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves, includingradio, optical and infrared waves. Signals include man-made transientvariations in amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization or otherphysical properties transmitted through the transmission media. Commonforms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, aflexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, aCD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape,optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes orother optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer canread. The term computer-readable storage medium is used herein to referto any computer-readable medium except transmission media.

Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both ofprocessor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and specialpurpose hardware, such as ASIC 720.

Network link 778 typically provides information communication usingtransmission media through one or more networks to other devices thatuse or process the information. For example, network link 778 mayprovide a connection through local network 780 to a host computer 782 orto equipment 784 operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISPequipment 784 in turn provides data communication services through thepublic, world-wide packet-switching communication network of networksnow commonly referred to as the Internet 790.

A computer called a server host 792 connected to the Internet hosts aprocess that provides a service in response to information received overthe Internet. For example, server host 792 hosts a process that providesinformation representing video data for presentation at display 714. Itis contemplated that the components of system 700 can be deployed invarious configurations within other computer systems, e.g., host 782 andserver 792.

At least some embodiments of the invention are related to the use ofcomputer system 700 for implementing some or all of the techniquesdescribed herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, thosetechniques are performed by computer system 700 in response to processor702 executing one or more sequences of one or more processorinstructions contained in memory 704. Such instructions, also calledcomputer instructions, software and program code, may be read intomemory 704 from another computer-readable medium such as storage device708 or network link 778. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in memory 704 causes processor 702 to perform one or more ofthe method steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware,such as ASIC 720, may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the inventionare not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software,unless otherwise explicitly stated herein.

The signals transmitted over network link 778 and other networks throughcommunications interface 770, carry information to and from computersystem 700. Computer system 700 can send and receive information,including program code, through the networks 780, 790 among others,through network link 778 and communications interface 770. In an exampleusing the Internet 790, a server host 792 transmits program code for aparticular application, requested by a message sent from computer 700,through Internet 790, ISP equipment 784, local network 780 andcommunications interface 770. The received code may be executed byprocessor 702 as it is received, or may be stored in memory 704 or instorage device 708 or any other non-volatile storage for laterexecution, or both. In this manner, computer system 700 may obtainapplication program code in the form of signals on a carrier wave.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequence of instructions or data or both to processor 702 forexecution. For example, instructions and data may initially be carriedon a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as host 782. The remotecomputer loads the instructions and data into its dynamic memory andsends the instructions and data over a telephone line using a modem. Amodem local to the computer system 700 receives the instructions anddata on a telephone line and uses an infra-red transmitter to convertthe instructions and data to a signal on an infra-red carrier waveserving as the network link 778. An infrared detector serving ascommunications interface 770 receives the instructions and data carriedin the infrared signal and places information representing theinstructions and data onto bus 710. Bus 710 carries the information tomemory 704 from which processor 702 retrieves and executes theinstructions using some of the data sent with the instructions. Theinstructions and data received in memory 704 may optionally be stored onstorage device 708, either before or after execution by the processor702.

FIG. 8 illustrates a chip set or chip 800 upon which an embodiment ofthe invention may be implemented. Chip set 800 is programmed to verifyassociation of users with products and product information as describedherein and includes, for instance, the processor and memory componentsdescribed with respect to FIG. 7 incorporated in one or more physicalpackages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical package includesan arrangement of one or more materials, components, and/or wires on astructural assembly (e.g., a baseboard) to provide one or morecharacteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size, and/orlimitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that in certainembodiments the chip set 800 can be implemented in a single chip. It isfurther contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set or chip800 can be implemented as a single “system on a chip.” It is furthercontemplated that in certain embodiments a separate ASIC would not beused, for example, and that all relevant functions as disclosed hereinwould be performed by a processor or processors. Chip set or chip 800,or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or moresteps of providing user interface navigation information associated withthe availability of functions. Chip set or chip 800, or a portionthereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps ofverifying association of users with products and product information.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 800 includes a communicationmechanism such as a bus 801 for passing information among the componentsof the chip set 800. A processor 803 has connectivity to the bus 801 toexecute instructions and process information stored in, for example, amemory 805. The processor 803 may include one or more processing coreswith each core configured to perform independently. A multi-coreprocessor enables multiprocessing within a single physical package.Examples of a multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greaternumbers of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor803 may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem via thebus 801 to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining, andmultithreading. The processor 803 may also be accompanied with one ormore specialized components to perform certain processing functions andtasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP) 807, or one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) 809. A DSP 807typically is configured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) inreal time independently of the processor 803. Similarly, an ASIC 809 canbe configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed bya more general purpose processor. Other specialized components to aid inperforming the inventive functions described herein may include one ormore field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), one or more controllers, orone or more other special-purpose computer chips.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 800 includes merely one or moreprocessors and some software and/or firmware supporting and/or relatingto and/or for the one or more processors.

The processor 803 and accompanying components have connectivity to thememory 805 via the bus 801. The memory 805 includes both dynamic memory(e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) and staticmemory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executable instructionsthat when executed perform the inventive steps described herein toverifying association of users with products and product information.The memory 805 also stores the data associated with or generated by theexecution of the inventive steps.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal (e.g.,handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in the systemof FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, mobileterminal 901, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performingone or more steps of verifying association of users with products andproduct information. Generally, a radio receiver is often defined interms of front-end and back-end characteristics. The front-end of thereceiver encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereasthe back-end encompasses all of the base-band processing circuitry. Asused in this application, the term “circuitry” refers to both: (1)hardware-only implementations (such as implementations in only analogand/or digital circuitry), and (2) to combinations of circuitry andsoftware (and/or firmware) (such as, if applicable to the particularcontext, to a combination of processor(s), including digital signalprocessor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause anapparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform variousfunctions). This definition of “circuitry” applies to all uses of thisterm in this application, including in any claims. As a further example,as used in this application and if applicable to the particular context,the term “circuitry” would also cover an implementation of merely aprocessor (or multiple processors) and its (or their) accompanyingsoftware/or firmware. The term “circuitry” would also cover ifapplicable to the particular context, for example, a baseband integratedcircuit or applications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phoneor a similar integrated circuit in a cellular network device or othernetwork devices.

Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main ControlUnit (MCU) 903, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 905, and areceiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and aspeaker gain control unit. A main display unit 907 provides a display tothe user in support of various applications and mobile terminalfunctions that perform or support the steps of verifying association ofusers with products and product information. The display 907 includesdisplay circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a userinterface of the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile telephone). Additionally,the display 907 and display circuitry are configured to facilitate usercontrol of at least some functions of the mobile terminal. An audiofunction circuitry 909 includes a microphone 911 and microphoneamplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from the microphone911. The amplified speech signal output from the microphone 911 is fedto a coder/decoder (CODEC) 913.

A radio section 915 amplifies power and converts frequency in order tocommunicate with a base station, which is included in a mobilecommunication system, via antenna 917. The power amplifier (PA) 919 andthe transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally responsive to theMCU 903, with an output from the PA 919 coupled to the duplexer 921 orcirculator or antenna switch, as known in the art. The PA 919 alsocouples to a battery interface and power control unit 920.

In use, a user of mobile terminal 901 speaks into the microphone 911 andhis or her voice along with any detected background noise is convertedinto an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then converted into adigital signal through the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) 923. Thecontrol unit 903 routes the digital signal into the DSP 905 forprocessing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding,encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voicesignals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellulartransmission protocol such as enhanced data rates for global evolution(EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS),universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as anyother suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), LongTerm Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA),wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity(WiFi), satellite, and the like, or any combination thereof.

The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 925 for compensationof any frequency-dependent impairments that occur during transmissionthough the air such as phase and amplitude distortion. After equalizingthe bit stream, the modulator 927 combines the signal with a RF signalgenerated in the RF interface 929. The modulator 927 generates a sinewave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In order to prepare thesignal for transmission, an up-converter 931 combines the sine waveoutput from the modulator 927 with another sine wave generated by asynthesizer 933 to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. Thesignal is then sent through a PA 919 to increase the signal to anappropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA 919 acts as avariable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP 905 frominformation received from a network base station. The signal is thenfiltered within the duplexer 921 and optionally sent to an antennacoupler 935 to match impedances to provide maximum power transfer.Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna 917 to a local basestation. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied to control thegain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may be forwardedfrom there to a remote telephone which may be another cellulartelephone, any other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks.

Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal 901 are received viaantenna 917 and immediately amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA)937. A down-converter 939 lowers the carrier frequency while thedemodulator 941 strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream.The signal then goes through the equalizer 925 and is processed by theDSP 905. A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) 943 converts the signal andthe resulting output is transmitted to the user through the speaker 945,all under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU) 903 which can beimplemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The MCU 903 receives various signals including input signals from thekeyboard 947. The keyboard 947 and/or the MCU 903 in combination withother user input components (e.g., the microphone 911) comprise a userinterface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU 903 runs a userinterface software to facilitate user control of at least some functionsof the mobile terminal 901 to verify association of users with productsand product information. The MCU 903 also delivers a display command anda switch command to the display 907 and to the speech output switchingcontroller, respectively. Further, the MCU 903 exchanges informationwith the DSP 905 and can access an optionally incorporated SIM card 949and a memory 951. In addition, the MCU 903 executes various controlfunctions required of the terminal. The DSP 905 may, depending upon theimplementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digitalprocessing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP 905determines the background noise level of the local environment from thesignals detected by microphone 911 and sets the gain of microphone 911to a level selected to compensate for the natural tendency of the userof the mobile terminal 901.

The CODEC 913 includes the ADC 923 and DAC 943. The memory 951 storesvarious data including call incoming tone data and is capable of storingother data including music data received via, e.g., the global Internet.The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, registers,or any other form of writable storage medium known in the art. Thememory device 951 may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD,ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, magnetic disk storage, flash memorystorage, or any other non-volatile storage medium capable of storingdigital data.

An optionally incorporated SIM card 949 carries, for instance, importantinformation, such as the cellular phone number, the carrier supplyingservice, subscription details, and security information. The SIM card949 serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal 901 on a radionetwork. The card 949 also contains a memory for storing a personaltelephone number registry, text messages, and user specific mobileterminal settings.

While the invention has been described in connection with a number ofembodiments and implementations, the invention is not so limited butcovers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, whichfall within the purview of the appended claims. Although features of theinvention are expressed in certain combinations among the claims, it iscontemplated that these features can be arranged in any combination andorder.

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing(1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1)data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, atleast in part, on the following: at least one determination that a useris associated with at least one product; at least one determination ofone or more media files, one or more content files, or a combinationthereof associated with the at least one product; and an association ofthe one or media files, one or more content files, or a combinationthereof with descriptive information associated with the at least oneproduct.
 2. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2)information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at leastin part, on the following: at least one determination of at least onesearch term associated with the at least one product; and a query of oneor more storage repositories, one or more devices associated with theuser, or a combination thereof for the one or more media files, the oneor more content files, or a combination thereof based, at least in part,on the at least one search term.
 3. A method of claim 2, wherein the (1)data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are furtherbased, at least in part, on the following: at least one determination ofone or more credentials for accessing the one or more storagerepositories, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof from theuser.
 4. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2)information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at leastin part, on the following: a generation of at least one request forpermission to (a) access the one or more media files, the one or morecontent files, or a combination thereof; (b) cause the association ofthe one or more media files, the one or more content files, or acombination thereof with the descriptive information; or (c) acombination thereof, wherein the association of the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof with thedescriptive information is based, at least in part, on one or moreresponses from the user to the at least one request.
 5. A method ofclaim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at leastone signal are further based, at least in part, on the following: apresentation of the descriptive information, the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof to atleast one other user.
 6. A method of claim 5, wherein the (1) dataand/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based,at least in part, on the following: at least one determination of the atleast one other user based, at least in part, on social proximityinformation, privacy information, user preference information, or acombination thereof.
 7. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or(2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, atleast in part, on the following: a processing of the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, related metadata, or a combinationthereof to cause, at least in part, a verification that the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereofwere created via the at least one product.
 8. A method of claim 7,wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least onesignal are further based, at least in part, on the following: aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, one or more messages associated with the user, or a combinationthereof to determine that the user is associated with the at least oneproduct, wherein the association of the one or more media files, the oneor more content files, or a combination thereof is based, at least inpart, on the verification.
 9. A method of claim 7, wherein the (1) dataand/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based,at least in part, on the following: at least one determination ofranking information for the user based, at least in part, on theverification.
 10. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2)information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at leastin part, on the following: at least one determination that the at leastone product has connectivity to a device associated with the user,wherein the one or more media files, the one or more content files, oneor more characteristics of the at least one product, or a combinationthereof is obtained over the connectivity.
 11. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; and at least one memory including computerprogram code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, determine that auser is associated with at least one product; determine one or moremedia files, one or more content files, or a combination thereofassociated with the at least one product; and cause, at least in part,an association of the one or media files, one or more content files, ora combination thereof with descriptive information associated with theat least one product.
 12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein theapparatus is further caused to: determine at least one search termassociated with the at least one product; and cause, at least in part, aquerying of one or more storage repositories, one or more devicesassociated with the user, or a combination thereof for the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereofbased, at least in part, on the at least one search term.
 13. Anapparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:determine one or more credentials for accessing the one or more storagerepositories, the one or more devices, or a combination thereof from theuser.
 14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is furthercaused to: cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one requestfor permission to (a) access the one or more media files, the one ormore content files, or a combination thereof (b) cause the associationof the one or more media files, the one or more content files, or acombination thereof with the descriptive information; or (c) acombination thereof, wherein the association of the one or more mediafiles, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof with thedescriptive information is based, at least in part, on one or moreresponses from the user to the at least one request.
 15. An apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: cause, at least inpart, a presentation of the descriptive information, the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereof toat least one other user.
 16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein theapparatus is further caused to: determine the at least one other userbased, at least in part, on social proximity information, privacyinformation, user preference information, or a combination thereof. 17.An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more media files,the one or more content files, related metadata, or a combinationthereof to cause, at least in part, a verification that the one or moremedia files, the one or more content files, or a combination thereofwere created via the at least one product.
 18. An apparatus of claim 17,wherein the apparatus is further caused to: process and/or facilitate aprocessing of the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, one or more messages associated with the user, or a combinationthereof to determine that the user is associated with the at least oneproduct, wherein the association of the one or more media files, the oneor more content files, or a combination thereof is based, at least inpart, on the verification.
 19. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein theapparatus is further caused to: determine ranking information for theuser based, at least in part, on the verification.
 20. An apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine that theat least one product has connectivity to a device associated with theuser, wherein the one or more media files, the one or more contentfiles, one or more characteristics of the at least one product, or acombination thereof is obtained over the connectivity. 21-48. (canceled)